Table of Contents

Component Description

A nine-item depression screening questionnaire (variable name prefix DPQ), called the Patient Health Questionnaire (also, PHQ-9), (Kroenke and Spitzer, 2002; Kroenke et. al., 2001) was administered to determine the frequency of depression symptoms over the past 2 weeks. For each symptom question, scores ranging from 0 to 3, are associated with the response categories "not at all," "several days," "more than half the days," and "nearly every day.” An additional functional impairment question is asked if any symptom is endorsed. This screening instrument incorporates DSM-IV depression diagnostic criteria (Spitzer et. al.,1999).

Eligible Sample

Participants aged 12 years and older who were able to understand and read English or Spanish were eligible. The interview was not administered to participants needing a proxy informant or interpreter due to the sensitive nature of the questions. Only data from participants aged 18 and older are included in this data file. Data for youth 12-17 years of age are available through the NCHS Research Data Center.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

The questions were asked at the Mobile Examination Center (MEC) using the Audio Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (ACASI) system. In previous NHANES, these questions were administered as part of the face-to-face MEC Interview.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

The ACASI system is programmed with built-in consistency checks to reduce data entry errors.

Data Processing and Editing

Edits were made to ensure completeness, consistency, and analytic usefulness of the data. 

Analytic Notes

A total score, ranging from 0 to 27, can be calculated for participants who have complete responses to the symptom questions. Major depression and depression severity can be assessed using pre-defined cut-points, described in the references.

Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.

References

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS

DPQ010 - Have little interest in doing things

Variable Name:
DPQ010
SAS Label:
Have little interest in doing things
English Text:
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems: little interest or pleasure in doing things? Would you say...
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Not at all 3703 3703
1 Several days 1205 4908
2 More than half the days 334 5242
3 Nearly every day 256 5498
7 Refused 5 5503
9 Don't know 16 5519
. Missing 818 6337

DPQ020 - Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless

Variable Name:
DPQ020
SAS Label:
Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
English Text:
[Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems:] feeling down, depressed, or hopeless?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Not at all 3674 3674
1 Several days 1325 4999
2 More than half the days 295 5294
3 Nearly every day 214 5508
7 Refused 3 5511
9 Don't know 7 5518
. Missing 819 6337

DPQ030 - Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

Variable Name:
DPQ030
SAS Label:
Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
English Text:
[Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems:] trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping too much?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Not at all 2772 2772
1 Several days 1690 4462
2 More than half the days 511 4973
3 Nearly every day 536 5509
7 Refused 3 5512
9 Don't know 4 5516
. Missing 821 6337

DPQ040 - Feeling tired or having little energy

Variable Name:
DPQ040
SAS Label:
Feeling tired or having little energy
English Text:
[Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems:] feeling tired or having little energy?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Not at all 2348 2348
1 Several days 2113 4461
2 More than half the days 571 5032
3 Nearly every day 474 5506
7 Refused 3 5509
9 Don't know 5 5514
. Missing 823 6337

DPQ050 - Poor appetite or overeating

Variable Name:
DPQ050
SAS Label:
Poor appetite or overeating
English Text:
[Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems:] poor appetite or overeating?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Not at all 3710 3710
1 Several days 1138 4848
2 More than half the days 371 5219
3 Nearly every day 291 5510
7 Refused 0 5510
9 Don't know 3 5513
. Missing 824 6337

DPQ060 - Feeling bad about yourself

Variable Name:
DPQ060
SAS Label:
Feeling bad about yourself
English Text:
[Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems:] feeling bad about yourself - or that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Not at all 3971 3971
1 Several days 1054 5025
2 More than half the days 268 5293
3 Nearly every day 212 5505
7 Refused 3 5508
9 Don't know 2 5510
. Missing 827 6337

DPQ070 - Trouble concentrating on things

Variable Name:
DPQ070
SAS Label:
Trouble concentrating on things
English Text:
[Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems:] trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching TV?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Not at all 4036 4036
1 Several days 989 5025
2 More than half the days 277 5302
3 Nearly every day 203 5505
7 Refused 2 5507
9 Don't know 1 5508
. Missing 829 6337

DPQ080 - Moving or speaking slowly or too fast

Variable Name:
DPQ080
SAS Label:
Moving or speaking slowly or too fast
English Text:
[Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems:] moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed? Or the opposite - being so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Not at all 4748 4748
1 Several days 511 5259
2 More than half the days 129 5388
3 Nearly every day 108 5496
7 Refused 4 5500
9 Don't know 8 5508
. Missing 829 6337

DPQ090 - Thought you would be better off dead

Variable Name:
DPQ090
SAS Label:
Thought you would be better off dead
English Text:
[Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems:] Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Not at all 5207 5207
1 Several days 209 5416
2 More than half the days 57 5473
3 Nearly every day 28 5501
7 Refused 0 5501
9 Don't know 5 5506
. Missing 831 6337

DPQ100 - Difficulty these problems have caused

Variable Name:
DPQ100
SAS Label:
Difficulty these problems have caused
English Text:
How difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with people?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Not at all difficult 2573 2573
1 Somewhat difficult 1306 3879
2 Very difficult 207 4086
3 Extremely difficult 74 4160
7 Refused 4 4164
9 Don't know 3 4167
. Missing 2170 6337